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Mixing Music & Politics: Musicians and Arizona

June 18, 2010 — Lew Rosenbaum

Music writer Danny Alexander made this comment and asked a question:

“So far, it seems to me that Shakira has made the most extensive, well publicized response–several press conferences and a 1000 word essay–in response to the Arizona Bill. I know Zack de la Rocha called for an artists boycott of the strike, and Hall and Oates has chosen not to play there. Kanye West agreed not to play. What other prominent musicians have made a clear statement of any kind?”

Toki Wright did a remake of Public Enemy’s “By the Time I Get to Arizona”, originally written to object to Arizona’s rejection of the national holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; it’s on YouTube.

Chuck D wrote something on HuffPo. Public Enemy has gone into the studio to record a new cut, “Tear Down the Wall”, with guest performances by Tom Morello, Rise Against and Z-Trip.